#And said: hey Mel THIS is Azor Ahai! THIS is your king!

[jonsnowunemploymentera]

Melisandre is one of my favorite minor POVs mostly because of how GRRM plays with the all-powerful mage trope. See the deconstruction with her is that despite her antics, she’s actually very powerful and all her visions are legit. It’s just that she absolutely sucks at interpreting said visions, mostly because she has all these preconceived notions and is very stubborn about them. And even when the answer is staring right at her (literally), she just doubles down. And it can be very frustrating as a reader, to be quite honest.

Like she’s been super gung ho about Stannis Baratheon being Azor Ahai/the Prince that Was Promised, though only R’hllor know why, to the extent that she will flat-out ignore any evidence to the contrary. Her visions in ADWD essentially scream that Azor Ahai is someone different (not Stannis!) but good ol’ Mel just won’t budge.

There’s this very hilarious interaction in Jon’s 10th ADWD chapter that essentially spells out all of her problems with visions and prophecy, with Jon serving as the reader’s proxy in some ways.

This interaction happens during Alys Karstark’s wedding feast and Patchface drops some of his weird jingles, which Mel very unsettled by. So she’s turns to Jon and is like, “ugh that dude is so creepy, all my visions tell me so”. And Jon’s reaction to this is super funny, because he’s like:

“You see fools in your fire, but no hint of Stannis?”

Wow Jon lmao

He just had to call her out like that, unprovoked. But his frustration makes sense. He’s constantly been asking about Stannis’ whereabouts but Mel’s responses just aren’t very satisfactory (in his opinion).

Then we get this next line which really just says everything about Mel’s stubbornness and perfectly embodies the deconstruction of the all-powerful seer trope.

“When I search for him all I see is snow.”

So Mel looks for Stannis, whom she believes to be Azor Ahai, in her fires but doesn’t find him. Instead she sees “snow”. And this part tracks with her POV too. We know from her chapter that she constantly sees Jon in her visions. It’s how we get the very interesting “I pray for a glimpse of Azor Ahai, and R’hllor shows me only Snow” line.

So one would think that Mel might go: “Hmmm I look for the prophesied savior, but I don’t see Stannis. Instead, I only see Snow. I don’t doubt R’hllor’s power so if my visions are true, then maybe I need to rethink a few things”.

One would think…

But nope!

And Jon’s like “Hey maybe you’re not seeing Stannis because he’s super dead, ever think about that Mel?” And she proceeds to spout the usual Azor Ahai stuff and even mentions Dragonstone:

“When the red star bleeds and the darkness gathers, Azor Ahai shall be born again amidst smoke and salt to wake dragons out of stone. Dragonstone is the place of smoke and salt.”

To which Jon’s replies, “uhhhh news flash Stannis was not born on Dragonstone so that doesn’t track”.

Obviously this is Jon’s skepticism but I like to think that he took the reader’s place here. Because many of us have asked ourselves, why oh why would Mel think of Stannis just because she saw Dragonstone? Like yeah, he’s the Lord of Dragonstone but he wasn’t born there. It’s quite a valid question and how does Mel counter it? She doubles down and twist herself into a pretzel to make Stannis fit (even though he doesn’t fit at all!)

Really, Jon’s reaction is essentially what would happen if someone dropped me into the world of ASOIAF and gave me the chance to meet Mel and ask her a few questions. I’d be quite frustrated, just as Jon is here. And to be fair, the reader has a lot of auxiliary information (e.g., Jon’s parentage) that Mel doesn’t have.

But then the next few lines really illustrate just why poor Mel can be so frustrating. Because Jon’s follow up is,

“And what of Mance? Is he lost as well? What do your fires show?”

And what does Mel say?

“The same, I fear. Only snow.”

…??!

Mel!😭

Seriously, I cannot! This is the exact same situation as with Stannis. She looks for a king but only sees Snow. This makes me wonder then, based on previous wording, if she’s specifically looking for “the King Beyond the Wall” (not just “Mance”) and only seeing Snow - at this point, Jon has all but supplanted Mance.

So once again, one would think that Mel would go: hmmmm I look for the King Beyond the Wall but I see Jon Snow and not Mance Rayder. Seeing that Mance’s power has been diminished and Jon Snow is now taking control of the wildlings, maybe I should re-evaluate a few things”.

Yeah, one would think…

Homegirl is trying her best, she really is. But sadly, her best can only get E for Effort.

And at this point the reader is just done with Mel, and Jon is too:

“You are seeing cinders dancing in the updraft.”

He doesn’t even bother to phase it as a question lmao. He just calls her out and doesn’t care.

And we’re in his POV so he’s thinking of the lower case “snow”. Also, why in the hell is Mel referring to Jon like this?

Anyway, this is why I think Jon serves as the reader’s proxy in this conversation because it’s like a thinking exercise (facilitated by the narrative) that ultimately goes nowhere because Mel is so, so stubborn.

Because if we really break it down:

R’hllor/the Narrative: Who do you see when you search for the king/Azor Ahai?

Mel: Jon Snow

R’hllor/the Narrative: Ok…and who do you see when you search for the King Beyond the Wall?

Mel: Erm, Jon Snow…

R’hllor/the Narrative/the Reader: Great! So say it with me. The king you’re looking for is J-

Mel: STANNIS BARATHEON!

R’hllor/the Reader: …?!

And before anyone claims that this is a misdirect, Mel really is seeing Jon Snow. Straight from the horse’s mouth:

“I am seeing skulls. And you. I see your face every time I look into the flames.”

Friend….I don’t even know what to say anymore…

[thousandeyesand-one]

Hello there! I see you are accepting asks so here ya go! How do you think Dany and her advisors (especially Tyrion and Varys) will react to R+L=J next season? P.S. I love your blog.

my firstt anon question.thank you & god bless you anon!

I have seen a lot of posts on social media that say tyrion & varys are going to betray dany next season. Personally as much as I believe Jon isn’t the type of a man who will betray someone he Loves, tyrion isn’t that type of a man either. Of'course he doesn’t Love dany but he won’t betray her nevertheless. Although varys remains shady for that part..  

 •Tyrion & Varys’s relationship is one of the most interesting odd couplings in GOT. For example tyrion with bronn, tyrion with pod, these relationships were pretty on the point, as 3rd person viewers we knew exactly what kept both these characters together. We knew both the characters intentions behind their relationships. Whereas V&T, I understand tyrion’s intention but I think varys always had a secret agenda behind all of his actions. He says he is with tyrion for the good of the realm, both of them for now have the same goal of restoring better rule in Kings Landing. 

 •Although varys has been at this “I am going to single handedly either by hook or by crook save the realm” trip for a long time. Way before Jon & Dany were born, way before tyrion even knew the taste of politics in the capital. Varys was at one point in his life mad king’s most trusted advisor which was a huge raise compared to his little two men coupé in essos with Illyrio Mopatus. He was castrated by a 3rd grade sorcerer as a boy, who showed him something in the flames & a voice called out from the flames as they turned blue. Nobody knows what the voice said or who it was that spoke. But I bet that shaped varys into the Master of whispers that he is today, only man in westeros that Little Finger truly respected & feared, everyone else he easily played.In the book series he has this whole FAegon storyline which was cut out from the show. 

 •He advised aerys that Rhaegar might’ve arranged the tourney to conspire against him. Rhaegar famously believed he was Azor Ahai & also the Targaryens aerys, Maester aemon etc.. along with everyone close to the family knew about the prophecy infact jahaerys made aerys & rhaella marry to fulfill the prophecy by a woodswitch. Ser Barristan also said varys rot aerys’s brain even more fueling his madness but I think it was to stop rhaegar from coming to power, probably because he was famously TPTWP & he heard something about azor ahai in the flames.•He opposed & moved mountains to defeat stannis, who he knew was also believed by mel to be TPTWP. He helped tyrion when no one on the small council wanted to help him during Battle of the Blackwater bay, of'course he wanted to save the city the damage of a siege but he truly wanted stannis to be stopped. He served aerys before the sack of KL but then without a second thought he served Robert Baratheon as soon as aerys died. He doesn’t care about allegiances but he didn’t want stannis or mel to win.

•The scene between Kinvara, Varys & tyrion was much more important than people think. Varys heard something about TPTWP in the flames & due to what the sorcerer did to him he has cultivated so much hate since then for religion, magic & all.. that he decided to prove all this “Lord’s will” crap useless. He started controlling men & operating from the shadows, basically changing anything to his will just to prove, in hatred that all the Lord’s will’s & priests are wrong. He thinks they are mad to hurt common people like him for their fanatism.

•That being said I think if either Dany or Jon/Aegon turns out to be TPTWP, varys will betray dany in hatred for the Religion, not her. But if she believes in all this & so does aegon/jon & suddenly all that magical crap he denied all his life starts coming true he will definitely betray the both of them.

Both these red priestesses clearly knew something that either varys knew or he didn’t. He might’ve always known he will betray dany or maybe he even doesn’t know that yet, but kinvara has seen his future. Same as mel. I am not sponsoring R'hllor as one true god or anything but red priests in the past have shown to have powers.•While on the Political side of things, it doesn’t matter if Jon turns out to be a Targaryen to him since J&D are gonna get married anyways! After which the power would still rest with his side. But if varys truly knew rhaegar was believed to be TPTWP or that Rhaegar thought his son would be so, then I think he will create problems for jonerys. 

 •Whereas kinvara doesn’t batt an eyelash at tyrion throughout the meeting even though she clearly knew everything about him. She tells him about his journey in Volantis proving she researched about tyrion. These red priests research like FBI basically they know everything about you even before you think they do. She only speaks to varys one on one because tyrion doesn’t betray dany. He is loyal to her. 

 •His Loyalty was exemplified in the Battle of the Blackwater bay, he didn’t give a sh*t about joffery, cersei or his family who treated him like sh*t all his life but still he fought for them. Loyalty is one of the attributes of tyrion. Although its Loyalty to the right, he isn’t one of the men who would blindly be Loyal to  anyone because they are family or something. He never respected joffery even though he was family, like he respects dany. 

 •Even if he had any blind loyalty to his family that comes from sharing blood it was washed away after this point right here.

Since Jaime has also given up on cersei there is no way in hell tyrion is going back to her or even has a plan to do so.•Again on the Political side of things he will be shocked just like everyone else, since he along with dany set out together to break the wheel. But if Jon/Aegon fathers a targling with dany, without even knowing about R+L=J tyrion won’t like it. But after finding out I doubt they’ll have enough time to react or counteract to it since Night Kings frozen murderous ass will be upon them. I think in the wake of that disaster they’ll accept any & everything. But hey am just guessing.. 

& Finally I think people are misinterpreting the finale tyrion look just like they misinterpreted the sansa look at the end of S06. I remember how the theory of sansa betraying Jon took popularity because of this look she gave to little finger, but what happened instead?! Sansa stood up for the Pack 🐺🐺🐺🐺💪Sansa got everything she wanted, she won back her home & restored starks to power but she had a Problem by the name of Little Finger to deal with, who asked something from her. His perv dream.. That’s what that look meant!Tyrion also got everything he wanted, he made Jon ally with dany & in his mind he convinced Cersei to drop the warfare. He thinks he saved everyone he loves from dying in a stupid war but just like little finger, cersei asked for something from him.. The Future of their family perhaps?! He isn’t going to betray dany because she is the only way he can achieve what he wants to but if dany’s womb quickens then that jeopardizes everything & he’ll have cersei to deal with.. That’s what that look means!

[silkygoldmilkweed]

Tinfoil Theory Q&A w @darklygophilia

(1) 05/08/2018darklygophilia - Hey. If your theory about Sandor being the Azor Ahai, Prince that was Promised and Sansa's his Nissa Nissa (which I believe him to be, too) - What do you think Melisandre's reaction will be? Knowing just how wrong she was in thinking it was Stannis and then Jon Snow. 

(a.) If you want to read all my tinfoiling about this, I think it’s now mostly all tagged under “promised prince” (this phrase is used by Jon late in the books, notice the slight variation in meaning and connotation from Mel’s preferred “the prince that was promised”) and “red sansa” (for my theory that Melisandre’s glamour is a Sansa Stark cosplay that she created without knowing who or what she’s really representing).

(b.) Mel is a colossal fuckup who illustrates the way that religions and cults pervert faith and virtue.  

I suspect Mel might never even know or might figure the truth about “Azor Ahai reborn” about a minute before she dies. Sandor would want nothing to do with her in any case. 

My feeling is that Melisandre will keep talking to Jon and Dany or Davos or Varys or Kinvara or Beric, and bugging them and dumping exposition on them, fruitlessly, but based on what she reveals over the course of the season the AUDIENCE will realize she’s meant to look like Sansa and that Sandor is the Warrior of Light. 

Sandor and Sansa’s hero tale is told on the micro level through the eyes of Sansa and Arya (who are almost the only people Sandor ever really talks to in the books, so far), and on the macro level through Melisandre/Stannis and Bran (he delivers a lot of info about the skinchanging and the role of the Starks in ending the Long Night), with some added narration from Sandor’s assorted spiritual advisors and faith guides: Beric Dondarrion, Thoros of Myr, the Elder Brother, Septon Meribald and Septon Ray (showverse).

Sandor and Sansa themselves may never even know that a cult’s prophecies about their love were the basis of a 5,000-year old religion in Essos. There’s a phrase I like: “World peace is none of your business.” 

The only part that matters to Sansa and Sandor is the part where they are two parts of a whole and they’re finally together again.

tl;dr: Never explain it at the end. Always ruins it. 

(2) And my other question. If your other theory about Sandor/Cersei having once fucked &having possibly had a secret kid (I'm starting to believe this one, you're theories, no matter how tin foil they may seem, always seem to make sense in the end) -How do you think Sansa will react if/when she earns that Sandor once screwed Cersei? 

(a) All my tinfoiling about Sandor x Cersei is tagged “black haired beauty” (after the way Cersei described the baby I suspect they shared), if anyone wants to check it out.

(b) Sansa Stark, upon hearing that long ago--probably before she was even born--young Sandor Clegane was enchanted with young Cersei Lannister: “You fell in love with a beauty you mistook for goodness? I can’t relate.” Sansa will be cool with it because she completely understands falling for a Lannister before realizing they are liars and frauds.

I think the Sandor who fucked Cersei was a stupid boy, and the Sansa who was devoted to her “beloved Joffrey” was a stupid girl, and I think Sandor recognizing his younger, more idealistic self in her is partly why he was so sympathetic. I think by the time we meet him he’s realized he’s spent his life serving dead-enders, and he’s sacrificed both his emotions and his conscience and maybe his own future prospects for...nothing.

If this is not just my deranged ramblings and ever comes out on the book or the show, I imagine Arya would be the most irate. She’ll give Sandor a hilarious and bitchy tongue-lashing and never let him live down that he stuck his dick in crazy.

I truly think Sansa will shrug about Sandor x Cersei, because everyone has a past (who’s worse? Cersei or Joffrey-Littlefinger-Ramsay?), and be very sad about the dead baby, on behalf of grieving father Sandor.

~~~

“Even Joffrey was not so foolish as to command Sandor Clegane to slay a son of Eddard Stark, however; the Hound would have gone to Cersei.“

“Don’t you want to ask who’s winning the battle, little bird?”

“Who?” she said, too frightened to defy him.

The Hound laughed. “I only know who’s lost. Me.”

He is drunker than I’ve ever seen him. He was sleeping in my bed. What does he want here? “What have you lost?”

“All.”

~~~

“The Blackwater? Where do you think I’m taking you?” 

“Back to King’s Landing. To Joffrey and the Queen.”

“Fuck Joffrey. Fuck the Queen.”

“You never love anything in the world the way you love your first child.”

~~~

(MORE TINFOIL, Aemon the Dragonknight-Queen Nerys-King Aegon love triangle edition: The same way Jaime took the white to be close to Cersei, I wonder if warg-crazed and/or love-crazed S1/AGOT Sandor Clegane didn’t take the white to keep close to Sansa. KG is one degree of separation from king’s betrothed. He was pretty much already attached to Joff, but maybe the role of KG elevated him and gave him a couple of more advantages he could use in her service?)

[occupyvenus]

Good episode is good

Spoilers under the cut!

BAD DANY IS COMING Y’ALL !!!

If there was a shred of doubt about the D turning “evil” left in my mind, this episode got rid of it for good! Her entire conversation with Varys was so menacing. A little late to have that conversation isn’t it? The guy teleported across the narrow see x-times, but you are questioning his loyalty now? The month they spend on a ship together must have been really awkward. 

She straight out looked someone in the eye and promised to BURN HIM ALIVE if he betrayed her. She didn’t say “you will pay with your life”, she said BURN HIM ALIVE. I mean, Cersei is trying harder to at least seem nice at this point. Btw, Dany, I hate to break it to you, but all your westerosi “servants” served Robert for some time. I know you have some personal beef with Varys (understandebly) but still. 

Tyrion keeps up his “shit, what did I do?” face. The dude looks worried the entire time. He constantly shifts between heart eyes and worried glances. You are thinking with your dick, Tyrion. 

There are some nice hints at bookstuff here as well: “It doesn’t feel like home”, she won’t find “home” in Westeros, she didn’t find it in Dragonstone and she won’t find it on the Iron Throne neither. It’s quite tragic, really. 

Her completely dismissing Viserys delusions is so telling of her characters trajectory as well. She no longer believes in the lies that the people are calling out for their rightous queen. Her conquest is no longer about “her people”, it’s an exlusively selfish endavour. 

Olena taking grass-whispering-jorahs role and reminding the D to remember what she is. I’m glad they found some way to get that in the show. Even if sassy queen of roses isn’t quite as cool as berry-induced hallizunations. 

Why  isn’t Mel telling them that Jon fucking died and was brought back to life? Why is everyone acting like that isn’t a huge fucking deal? She’s talking about prophecies (azor ahai and the ptwp are apparently the same thing, after all ... -_-), about her lords plan, about Jon having a part in it, but doesn’t mention that her god raised Jon from the dead? 

“Tell Jon Snow his queen invites him to Dragonstone TO BEND THE KNEE”

I really want Dany to say her “I was born to rule the Seven Kingdoms, and I will”-line to Jon. It would make sense, since she wants to him to bend the knee, plus wouldn’t that just be ... like ... D&D to be all “Hey audience! Born to rule... Do you get it? Do you? Looking at the line of succession who was born to rule the seven kingdoms?” *wink* *wink* nudge* *nudge* Rhaegar wasn’t confirmed as Jons father on the show, but they know, that we know. 

I don’t want to be the one to say it, but: A room full of women and the guy™ tells them how to do war. Sorry not sorry, it just needed to be said.

THE NORTHERN PLOT THICKENS ?

Starkbowl lasted an entirety of 5 seconds and was super duper impressive. Thanks for spamming us with this bullshit family feud for over a year. Finally Jon is actively asking for Sansas opinion. Finally. I love that Sansa and Davos are on the same page for a change. All the douchebag-behaviour (I know he had his reasons, I’m not shitting on him for this, just saying) was only to make good on the “starkbowl” promise. He went back to being the good old Jon in the span of an episode. 

That’s what they call revolt? A REVOLT ?! I was excpecting more. How was that any different from the discussions in episode 1? Did Tyrion not mention “the bend the knee” part of Danys invitation? 

No goodbye-scene, but long meaningful glances. Please notice how Jon is looking directly at Sansa when he talks about leaving, about taking that risk. They love each other so much, they trust each other so much and I’m alive.

YAASSSS!!!!! JUST KILL HIM ALREADY! GO JONNY! TELL THAT FUCKER TO STAY AWAY FROM YOUR SISTER WIFE !!! I really don’t know what else to say about this. It was perfect. PURE PERFECTION. I WATCHED IT LIKE A MILLION TIMES ALREADY. SO GOOD.  P.S how fast are people at making gifs??? 

I’m calling it, Littlefinger is onto Jonsa. That last look at Sansa, after Jon chockes the fuck out of him. That was a “What the hell is going on with you two?”-kind of look. He’s just as suspicious as we are, that wasn’t how a protective brother reacts, that was jeaulous boyfriend mode. 

Btw, have you noticed how often they had Jon call Sansa “sister”? That’s such a sudden change from season 6, they obviously want to remind the audience of their official relationship status. 

One look at Sansa and Jons face melts. And my poor little shipper-heart melds with it. 

CERSEI STARRING IN “HOW TO KILL A DRAGON”

I have to say something before anything else: Randyll is killing that outfit. 

Her PR-team did a good job, setting the lords of the seven kingdoms against the dothraki, the unsullied and reminding them of what she did to the “nobility” in Slavers Bay and the mad king action. I mean, who’s sitting in the glass house shouldn’t throw with stones (do you say that in english ??? I’m too tired to care.), but still, that’s public relations done right. 

I love the Joffrey callback they have going on with the giant crossbow. I can’t wait to see a dragon die. 

NYMERIAAAAA!!!!! I’m not crying, you are crying! 

Hot Pie! I love how he still calls her Arry! I love Hot Pie. I love everything about him. I love him giving Arya some advice on making good pies. His comment on her being pretty, makes me think that we’ll get a (gendrya)-romance on the show.

ARYA KNOWS ABOUT JON AND THAT IDIOT LEAVES WINTERFELL BEFORE SHE GETS THERE! I HATE THIS! I NEED THEM TO REUNITE AND HUG AND CRY AND NOT LEAVE EACH OTHERS SIDE FOR MONTHS! PLEASE! I NEED IT THIS SEASON! 

I’m not going to lie, Arya meeting Nymeria brought some tears to my eyes. That was so beautiful and so sad. “That wasn’t you.” Oh my god, my heart. That was a reference to Arya’s conversation with Ned in season 1, wasn’t it? This has me worried for Aryas future. If Nymeria doesn’t belong in Winterfell, what about Arya? I suppose after all this is over, she’ll make good on her promise to sail to the end of the world. I’m honestly not sure how to feel about that, but Gendry and Arya saying “no, thanks” to westerosi drama and sailing into the sunset together, is something I could get behind.

On a technical note: Nymeria wasn’t CGI, was she? They took a real husky and put it in there via green-screen, didn’t they? It looked a bit to real to be computer animated. Also, I’m glad to finally see a Direwolf as huge as they are supposed to be.

HONORABLE MENTIONS:

Ellarias “foreign invasion” on Yaras precious parts. What a “dornish” line.

Missandei and Grey Worm are so cute. One of the select few healthy relationships on the show and I officially raise a death-flag for both of them. They’re never going to see each other again.

Grey Worm went to the Jon Snow School of pleasing his lady love.

Their outfits are obviously the westeros version of the good old trenchcoat with nothing underneath. Look how fast they got naked. 

Jorah officially has a “Khaleesi”-fetish. 

Sams theme this season seems to be intercutting gross citadel-stuff with food. I don’t like it. 

Rum? Sam, couldn’t you get him Milk of the Puppy somewhere? I’m sure they have some lying aroung in the fucking Citadel? Did you have to cut of his skin without any form of proper anaesthisia? 

I love batshit-crazy Euron. That show of him crushing some random dude while boarding the ship was hilarious. 

My poor baby Theon. That single teardrop falling from Yaras eye, when he breaks down. That was so good. 

The dead sandsnakes being displayed on the ship were for no one but the audience. Are you happy now? They are dead. 

I’m so happy Tyrion mentioned Myrcella. It’s time someone calls out Ellarias bullshit. 

All in all, I loved this episode. I just wanted to dump some first impressions. More later, after I drowned myself in coffee. (4 hours of sleep aren’t enough. I’m getting old.)